Odgers, Sally. Boy down under.

ODGERS, Sally. Boy down under. Dorchester Publishing. 194p. c2004. 0-8439-5453-1. $5.99. JS

Rowena Maven has just moved from America to Sydney with her mother, who is studying traumatized teens. Rowena expects life in Australia to be different, but what she doesn't expect is her extremely unusual relationship with the mysterious Patrick Carroll. From the day he literally appears onward, nothing is normal. He reads Rowena's thoughts and often appears when she thinks about him. He whisks her off on magical dates to impossible places. They stay away for hours and yet return only moments after they left. He refuses to give Rowena any information about himself, and Rowena can never quite remember exactly how Patrick looks. All she remembers is that he is "cute, but not to die for." But how can you love someone who is not quite real? Regardless, Rowena is head over heels over her new "boyfriend."

Things would be absolutely perfect except for one thing: Rowena cannot talk about Patrick. Every time she tries, her mouth turns to raspberry Jell-O. Her best friend in America cannot understand why Rowena is so close-mouthed about her budding romance. Eventually she convinces Rowena to do something that jeopardizes her relationship with Patrick, because he is hiding something--something that would hurt him if she ever found out.

Boy Down Under is purely recreational reading material. The mystery of Patrick Carroll, when finally solved, is completely anti-climactic. The Australian setting and the American fish-out-of-water aspect of Rowena's situation could be appealing to teens who feel out of place in their own cultures. Also, the mysterious romance between Rowena and Patrick is the stuff of adolescent daydreams and fantasies. Although this is not a must-purchase, it is a fun book worth considering. Heather Lisowski, YA Libn., Castle Rock, CO

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescent and their teachers.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.